Jeff Bobo

ROGERSVILLE — A North Carolina man charged with his seventh DUI and 10th driving on a revoked license charge is scheduled to appear in Hawkins County Sessions Court today.

Garry Ray Wade, 56, Hendersonville, N.C., was also charged with reckless endangerment, failure to show proof of insurance, failure to show due care, improper passing, violation of the seatbelt law, failure to safely maintain proper lane, registration violation and possession of an open alcohol container following an accident that occurred in Hawkins County on Aug. 30.

Wade wasn’t formally charged by the Tennessee Highway Patrol until last week, at which time he was extradited from North Carolina.

THP Trooper Erick Gordon stated in the arrest warrant that on Aug. 30 he responded to a single vehicle accident on Route 66 involving a guard rail.

Two separate witnesses reportedly told Gordon that the vehicle, a red Chevrolet pickup traveling north on Route 66, had passed them both at a high rate of speed on the two-lane highway, crossing a double yellow center line.

The witnesses reportedly stated that the pickup nearly drove off the left side of the road during the pass but recovered, and they came upon the crash a short time later.

Based on medical records and statements made by medical staff and local police, Gordon stated in the warrant he determined that Wade was “extremely intoxicated” at the time of the accident.

A computer check shows Wade to have been convicted on six previous DUIs dating back to 1991 in Buncombe County, N.C.

Wade also has nine driving on revoked convictions dating back to 1984 in Henderson County, N.C.

An open container of Busch beer was allegedly found in the vehicle at the time of the accident.

Wade was being held without bond in the Hawkins County Jail pending his arraignment this morning.